Door-controlled lighting unit for refrigerators and the like



Oct. 11, 1938. MEUER 2,132,428

DOOR CONTROLLED LIGHTING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept.14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Mgl Ba i Oct. 11, 1938.

G. J. MEUER 2,132,428

DOOR CONTROLLED LIGHTING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE Filed Sept. 14,1936 LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g 9/ xx 3 4/4 a f 1 a Oct. 11, 1938.

G. J. MEUER 2,132,428 DOOR CONTROLLED LIGHTING UNIT FOR REFRIGERATORSANDTHE LIKE Filed Sept. 14. 1936 3 Shets-Sheet 3 C THERMOSTAT fiuCONTACTS Patented Oct. 1 1, 1938 DOOR-CONTROLLED LIGHTING UNIT FORRILFRIGERAZIPOIIS AND THE George J. Meuer, Milwaukee, Wis., usignor toCutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of DelawareApplication September 14, 1936, Serial No. 100,611

6 Claims. (01. 240-4 having novel means for electrically and me-'chanically connecting the same with the thermo-' stat of a refrigerator.

Another object is to provide such a device embodying a single insulatingbase produced by a straight-line molding operation to house the lampsocket contacts, the switch, the plug jack receiving contacts, and thewiring terminal elements for all of said parts.

Another object is to provide such a combination device having a minimumnumber of parts of simple and inexpensive form which may be readily andinexpensively assembled.

Another object is to generally improve and simplify the form of therespective parts of such combination devices, and the operativerelationship thereofwhen assembled.

Another and more specific object is to provide novel means for mountingthe device, and novel means for actuating the switch mechanism.

v Another object is to simplify the wiring arrangement and to facilitatewiring of such combinationidevices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain embodiments of theinvention which will now be described, it being understood that theembodiments illustrated are susceptible of modification in respect ofcertain details of construction thereof without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

.In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation (normal size) of acombined lamp receptacle, switch, and plug jack receptacle device asconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

F1Fig. 3 is'a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of the device,--wlth the insulating cover plate and the metaltop plate and bushing omitted.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, but showing theinsulating cover plate and the metal top plate and guide bushing inposition.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a refrigerator,

showing the manner of mounting the combinacircuit connections tiondevice of Figs. 1 to 6 with respect to a I thermostat, and showing oneform of dooroperated actuating means for the switch.

Fig. 8 is a view (normal size) similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modifiedform of the combination device, wherein the switch mechanism ispositioned at a point approximately ninety degrees removed from thatshown in Fig. 1,-the throw or movement of the switch contactor in Fig. 8being substantially greater than that of the contactor in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the switch illustrated in Fig. 8,--themetal top plate being omitted and the shape of the insulating coverplate beingindicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the broken line l-|0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the broken line I |--I l of Fig.8,--illustrating the manner of providing for a relatively large throw ormovement of the contactor, and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the for adevice like thatshown in Figs. 1 to 'l.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the numeral l designatesaone-piece base molded by a straight-line molding operation from asuitable insulating material, preferably porcelain. Those surfaces ofthe base which are exposed when in use are glazed in a. well knownmanner to facilitate cleaning thereof and to afford a maximum degree ofreflection of the light emitted by the lamp l6 (Fig. '7) whenilluminated. Base i5 is provided with a projection ll of substantiallycylindrical form,said projection having a recess 18 of a size to freelyaccommodate the standard size screw shell contact (not shown) of a lamp(|6,.Fig. 7). Recess i8 is provided with an outer portion l8 ofrelatively larger diameter to accommodate an annular sheet metal.contact member l8 which is adapted for cooperation with the screw shellcontact of a lamp. Member l9 as shown is of the form described andclaimed in the patent of George J. Meuer and Ralph A. Millermaster, No.2,063,044, dated December 8, 1936.

Thus member ID is provided at the inner edge thereof with a notch H -theportion I! radial to said notch being bent to extend in a planeangularly related to the portions of member I! adjacent thereto, wherebysaid portions are oil'- set relatively to each other to accommodate thescrew shell thread of the lamp (see Fig. 2) The portion l8- of therecess is provided with an abutment it" (Fig. 3) against whicha-portion.

of member I9 is adapted to seat, and a diametrically opposed relativelylower abutment l8 (Fig. 2) against which another portion of member I9 isadapted to seat.

A screw 26 has its shank extending downwardly through a clearanceopening in member I 9 and through a passage in base l5 to threadedlyengage a tapped opening in a punched sheet metal terminal member 2!(Fig. 4) located within a recess 22 in the lower surface of said base,-whereby the head of said screw clamps a portion of member l9 against theabutment I8 Member 2| is provided with a screw 2l for attachment of oneof the three terminal wires. The diametrically opposed portion of memberI9 is provided with a tapped opening to accommodate the shank of a screw23, the head of which is located in a relatively deep countersink in thelower surface of base l5 (Figs. '2 and 4) whereby said portion isclamped against abutment I89 (Fig. 2).

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, member I9 is bent downwardly to apredetermined degree at the left-hand side of screw head 20, and saidmember is bent downwardly to predetermined degrees on opposite sides ofscrew 23. The effect of this arrangement is to give the member 13 acircumferentially undulating form whereby spaced portions thereof willresiliently engage the opposed walls of the screw shell thread of thelamp l6.

The center contact portion 23 of the lamp socket is an integral part ofa strip' 24 of a suitable resilient metal or alloy, such as phosphorbronze,-said strip extending upwardly through a passage 25 provided inbase l5, and

having the contact portion 24 bent as illustrated for proper engagementthereof by the center contact of a lamp; The portion 24 of strip 24 isseated fiatwise within a recess 26 provided in the lower surface of base|5,-the same being rigidly secured within said recess, as by means of aneyelet 21. The other end portion 24 of said strip (Figs. 4 and 5) isarranged to overlie an auxiliary recess 28 (Fig. 5) formed in a boss orprojection 29 which is an integral .part of base I5.

Directly opposite to recess 28 is a second auxiliary recess 30,'aresilientstrip metal member 3| being seated Within a recess 32 in thebottom surface of base l5 and having a portion 3h overlying said recess30. Member 3| is rigidly attached to base l5, as by means of an eyelet33. Another portion 3| of member 3| is offset to lie within theaforementioned recess 22 in underlying relationship to a punched sheetmetal terminal member 34} which is clamped in position as by meansof ascrew 35 the head of which is located in a countersink in the bottomwall of recess l8. Also underlying member 34 and clamped in positionthereby is a resilient plug 7 receptacle contact 36 which is positionedas shown within a guide groove 31 formed in one side of a ridge orabutment 38 formed integrally with the bottom wall of recess 22. Member34 is provided with a screw 39 for attachment of another of the terminalwires. I

Ridge 38 is provided on the opposite" side thereof with a guide groove40 within which is positioned a second resilient plug receptacle contact4'! (which may be identical in form withrespect to contact 36),a portionof contact 4| underlying the terminal member 42 which is clamped 1 inposition by a screw 43 the head of which is similarly located withinvacountersink in the bottom wall of recess I8. Member 42 is provided witha screw 64 for attachment of another terminal wire. 35 leading from thefront face thereof and communicating-with recess 22 whereby the threeterminal wires 46, 31 and Myforming the cord 69, may be inserted andattached to the respective terminal members. The bottom wall of recess22 is preferably provided with integral raised portions 5|) and 5! toproperly insulate the wires and-their terminal connections within saidrecess.

The thermostat 52 (Fig. 7) is provided with a pair of jacks or prongs 5252*, Fig. 12, which are respectively received within the guide grooves31 and fill-the same being frictionally engaged by the contacts 36 andll. Base I 5 is provided with a passage 53 (Fig. 2) to accommodate theshank of 'a securing screw 53 which takes into a suitably threadedopening in a part (not shown) of thermostat 52. The head of screw 52 isseated in a countersink provided in the bottom wall of recess l8;whereby said screw is readily accessible from the front of base l5.Screw 56 is of special form,the major portion 56 of the shank thereofbeing unthreaded and of relatively smaller diameter than the .moves fromthe threaded portion to the relatively small diameter portion of theshank.

Referring again to the switch mechanism, it 'will be noted (Figs. 2 and5) that the boss 29 is provided with a main recess 56 of substantiallycylindrical form, the inner end of which is preferably provided with anintegral boss or projection 51 which serves to receive and center oneend of a coiled compression spring 58,the other end of which spring isseated, under a predetermined degree of compression, within a recess 59provided in the inner end of an insulating cylinder or plunger '60 whichis adapted to slide within said recess 56. Plunger 6D is provided at apoint spaced outwardly from its recess 59 with a diametrically extendingpassage which is adapted to receive with a sliding fit a contactorSljwhich is in the form of a rod, or a length Base I5 is provided with apassage Overlying that portion of base I 5 which carries the projection29 is a metal cover plate 62, which is attached to the base, as by meansof a pair of screws.63 and 64. Plate 62 is provided with a raised orbulged portion 65 of annular form, and' the same is provided with acircular opening which accommodates the reduced end 66 of a tubularmetal bushing 61,-said reduced end being upset over the inner surface ofplate 62 to secure said parts against movement relatively to each other.Bushing 61 is provided with a bore to assist in guiding 'the plunger 60.

The outer end of plunger 60 is preferably provided with a conicaldepression or recess. which is adapted to receive the conical end 69(Fig. 7)

mesa-ma of a switchactuating plunger or rod 18.

As shown, the bushing 81 is of such length as to accommodate a portionof the rod 18 to assist in guiding the latter for movement in a straightline. As shown in Figs. 2, and 6 a relatively thin but relatively rigidinsulating plate 1| is clamped by screws 63 and 84 between top plate 82and base i5,- -said insulating plate having an opening to provideclearance for plunger 60. At the same time plate ll backs theaforementioned stationary contact portions 24 and 3! to preventexcessive bending of the latter under the impact of contactor 5i asimpelled by spring 58.

Also as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, plate II is provided with an extension Hwhich overlies those live portions of the device which would othcrwisebe exposed upon complete assembly of the device as shown in Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the arrangement L illustrated in Fig. 'l,I have shown a conventional form of refrigerator box 12 having a hingeddoor Offset inwardly from door 13 is the front panel 14 of arefrigerator evaporator unit,the thermostat being attached to said panelin any suitablemanner for support thereby. Panel 14 is provided with anopening having therein a grommet or eyelet 15 which is alined with theaforementioned bushing 61. One end of rod extends outwardly from panel14 beyond the position thereof illustrated in the open position of door13 to permit closure of the switch contacts under the bias of spring58,-whereby said rod will be engaged by the door during and upon closureof the door to effect interruption of the circuitof lamp [6. Rod 18 hasattached thereto a stop Hi which acts as an abutment for one end of acoiled compression spring 16', the other end of which engages thegrommet 15. It is to be understood that spring 58 when unrestrainedpredominatesmver spring I6,the purpose of the latter being to cushionthe outward movement of rod 10 under the pressure of spring 58, and tostabilize said rod when the door 13 is in open position.

The device may be connected with a two-wire source of current supply inthe following manner: One line of the source may be connected by one ofthe conductors (say, 46, Figs. '7 and 12) to terminal member 84 by screw39,--the other line of the source being connected by a conductor (say,4'!) with the terminal member 2i by'screw 2|, thus providing forcompletion of the circuit of lamp it when the contactor Si is engagedwith the stationary contacts 24 and 3|. One terminal of a motor M, Fig.12, may be connected by a conductor (say 48) with the terminal member 42by screw 44,-the other terminal of said motor being connected to thatline of the source to which conductor 41 is connected. The motor willthus be subjected to control by the switch 52, Fig. 12, which forms ausual part of the thermostatic device 52.

To strengthen the base l5 and to prevent warping thereof after molding Iprefer to provide between the projection l1 and boss 29 an integral webor diaphragm 71 (Figs. 1 and 2)..

The under surface of base I5 (Figs. 2 and 4) is preferably provided witha notch or recess II: for interlocking engagement with a part of thethermostat casing 52\ The parts of the combination device are of simpleand inexpensive form, and the cost of assembling the same is minimized.The device is extremely compact in form and is neat and attractive inappearance, while the several parts thereof are nevertheless ofextremely rugged and durable construction and not likely to get out oforder.

The device illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, is essentially likethat aforedescribed, but

.diflers therefrom in respect of certain details of construction andarrangement of the parts. Certain of the parts employed in the device ofFigs. 8 to 11 may be identical with the corresponding partsaforedescribed and have been -designated by like reference numerals. Insaid device the porcelain base 18 is shaped or formed as illustrated toprovide for production thereof by a straight-line molding operation.Said base is provided with a substantially cylindrical projection 18having a recess 88 to accommodate the screw shell base of an electriclamp. Located within recess 80 is a' contact H to receive the screwshell contact of the lamp,sa.id contact i8 being retained in position bya screw 28 the shank of which takes into a tapped opening provided inthe terminal member 2i located within a wiring recess 8i in the undersurface of said base, and by a screw 23 the head of which is located ina deep countersink (Fig. 9) in the under surface of said base,--theshank of said screw taking into a tapped opening provided in contact l9.

The bottom wall of recess 88 is provided with countersinks (Fig. 8) toaccommodate the heads f screws 35 and 43,the shank of screw 35 takinginto a tapped opening in terminal member 34 which overlies a portion ofthe plug-jack receiving contact 36 and a portion of a metal strip or busmember 82, whereby said parts are electrically and mechanicallyconnected. The shank of screw 43 takes into a tapped opening in terminalmember 42 which overlies a portion of the plug-jack receiving contact4i, to clamp the latter in position. Contacts 36 and 4| are respectivelypositioned within guide grooves 83 and 84 provided in the under surfaceof the base. The bottom wall of recess 8! is preferably provided with anintegral raised portion 85 (Figs. 9 and 10) which substantiallysurrounds the terminal member 2|, while providing an entrance way forone of the three conductors of the cord 49 (Fig. '7) which enters fromthe front of the base through passage 88. By the arrangement illustratedthe conductors leading from passage 88 to the threeterminal members maybe; of substantially equal length. This is likewise true of theaforedescribed device, as shown in Fig. 4.

The under surface of base I8 is provided with a groove or notch 18*(Fig. 9) for cooperation with a suitable projection formed upon thecasing of the washer 55.

A resilient metal strip 88 is inserted upwardly through avpassage 89(Fig. 10) formed in the base,the bent end portion 88 forming the centercontact of the socket. Another portion 88 of said strip is securedwithin a groove in the the under surface of the base, as by means of theeyelet 21; and still another portion 88 thereof formed in the latter.

in the under surface of the base, as by means of I eyelet 39; anotherportion 82 thereof overlying said auxiliary recess 92.

Boss 9! is provided between the recesses 90 and 92 with a substantiallycylindrical main recess 93, the walls of which assist in guiding themovement of a molded insulating cylinder or plunger 99, which isrelatively longer than the corre sponding plunger of the device of Figs.-1 to '7. Plunger 99 is provided at its inner end with a recess 95 toaccommodate one end of a coiled compression spring 95 ,the other end ofwhich is seated against and centered by the reduced lower end wall ofmain recess 93. The outer end of plunger 94 is provided. with a conicalrecess 95 to accommodatethe conical end of a suitable actuating rod orpin. The contactor 6! is freely insertable into a passage extendingdiametrically through plunger 99 above the spring recess It iscontemplated that plunger 94 shall have a throw or movementcorresponding to the dotted line showing of 96 in Fig. 11. Accordinglythe auxiliary recesses 90 and 92 are made relatively deep as shown toaccommodate the corresponding movements of the projecting ends ofcontactor 6!.

The metal cover plate 62 is of the form heretofore described, but theboss or raised portion 95 has rigidly attached thereto a relatively longhollow bushing 91 to'assist in guiding the plunger 94 and an actuatingrod like or similar to that shown at 10 in Fig. 7. Interposed betweentop plate 62 and the under surface of base 19 is a relatively thin butrelatively rigid'insulating' plate 98 of the form illustrated in dottedlines in Fig. 9. Plate 98 is provided with an opening to afiordclearance for the plunger 94, said plate backing I up the'contactportions 82 89 to prevent excessive bending of the latter under theimpact of the contactor 9|. Top plate 92 is secured to base 18 by screws63 and 94, as aforedescribed. An integral web or diaphragm 99 (Fig. 8)is provided to strengthen the molded base 18 and to prevent 1. In adevice of the character described, in combination, a one-piece moldedinsulating base having a wiring cavity formed in the rear surfacethereof, said base having a forwardly opening conductor passagecommunicating with said cavity, three wiring terminal members locatedwithin said cavity, a pair of plug jack engaging contacts located withinsaid cavity and respectively connected with two of said terminalmembers, said base having a recess formed inthe front surface thereof,center and screw-thread type lamp socket contacts located withinsaid-recess, one of said two terminal members and the third terminalmember beinl adapted to provide for connection of said center andscrew-thread tvne lamp socket contact: to a source of current supplyindependently of the other of said two terminal members, a switch forinterrupting and completing said connection, the stationary and movablecontacts of said switch being carried by said base in laterally offsetrelation to said wiring cavity, one stationary contact being connectedwith one of said two terminal members and the other stationary contactbeing connected with one of saidsocket contacts, a spring carried bysaid base for biasing said movable contact to a given extreme position,and means to provide for movement'of said contact out of said extremeposition against said'bias.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a one-piecemolded insulating base having a wiring cavity formed in the rear surfacethereof, said base having a conductor passage communicating with saidcavity, three wiring terminal members located within said cavity, a pairof plug jack engaging contacts located within saidcavity andrespectively connected with two of said terminal members, said basehaving a recess formed in the front surface thereof, center andscrew-thread type lamp socket contacts located within said recess, oneof said two terminal members and the third terminal member being adaptedto provide for connection of said center and screw-thread type lam'psocket contacts to a source of current supply independently of the otherof said two terminal members, a switch for completing and interruptingsaid connection, the stationary and movable contacts of said switchbeing carried by said base in laterally offset relation to said wiringcavity, a coiled spring carried by said base for biasing said movablecontact to a given extreme position, means to lamp socket contactslocated within said recess,

a recess formed in, the rear surfaceof said base in substantialalinementwtih said lamp socket recess, three wiring terminal members securedwithin said last mentioned recess, a pair of plug jack receivingcontacts located within said last mentioned recess and electricallyconnected with two of said terminal members, said base having a mainrecess and a pair of auxiliary recesses formed in said rear surface inlaterally ofise't relationship to said recessesv aforementioned, a pairof stationary switch contacts overlying the respective auxiliaryrecesses, said switch contacts being respectively connected with one ofsaid jack receiving contacts and with one of said socket contacts, theother socket contact being connected with the third terminal member, aninsulating plunger located within and guided by the walls of said .mainrecess and spring-biased outwardly therefrom, said plunger having adiametrical passage formed therein, ,a contactor freely insertablethrough said passage, said contactor having its end portions locatedwithin said auxiliary recesses and guided by the walls thereof formovement in'a. straight line, a metal cover plate secured to said rearsurface of the base and oversaid plate having a hollow lying said switchcontacts, and a hollow bushing rigidly secured to said cover plate toconceal said plunger and to assist in guiding the same.

4. In a combined lamp socket, door-operated switch and plug jackreceptacle, in combination, a one-piece insulating base adapted to beproduced by a straight line molding operation, said base having a recessformed in the front surface thereof, center and screw-thread type lampsocket contacts located within said recess, said base having a wiringcavity formed in the rear surface thereof in substantial alinement withsaid recess, three wiring terminal members secured within said cavity, apair of plug jack receiving contacts located within said cavity andconnected with two of said terminal members respectively, said basehaving a main recess and a pair of auxiliary recesses formed in the rearsurface thereof and offset laterally from said cavity and said firstmentioned recess, an insulating plunger slidably mounted within saidmain recess and spring-biased outwardly therefrom, a contactor looselycarried by said plunger and having opposite ends thereof located withinthe respective auxiliary recesses to be guided thereby, a pair ofresilient stationary contacts respectively overlying said auxiliaryrecesses to be normally engaged by said contactor, a cover plate securedto said base and overlying said auxiliary recesses, metal bushingrigidly attached thereto and alined with said main recess to assist inguiding said plunger, one of said switch contacts being connected withone of said two terminal members, the other of said switch contactsbeing formed integrally with said center lamp socket contact, and thethird terminal memher being connected with said screw-thread type lampsocket contact.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulatingbase adapted to be produced by a straight line molding operation,said'base having a recess formed in the front surface thereof, centerand screw-thread type lamp socket contacts located within said recess, acavity formed in the rear surface of said base in substantial alinementwith said recess, three wiring terminal members secured with saidcavity, a pair of plug jack receiving contacts also located within saidcavity and connected with two of said terminal members respectively,said base having a main recess and a pair of opposed auxiliary recessesformed in said rear surface thereof in laterally offset relation to saidcavity and said first mentioned recess, a plunger formed of insulatingmaterial and slidable within said main recess, a spring interposedbetween said plunger and the end wall of said main recess, a bridgingcontactor extending transversely through said plunger and having itsends received within and guided by the walls of said auxiliary recesses,a pair of resilient stationary contacts respectively overlying saidauxiliary recesses and into and out of engagement with which saidcontactor is adapted to move, said stationary contacts beingrespectively connected with one of said jack receiving contacts and withone of said socket contacts, the othersocket contact being connectedwith the third terminal member, a plate of insulating material overlyingsaid stationary contacts, a metal cover plate overlying said insulatingplate and rigidly secured to said base, said plates having alinedopenings formed therein to accommodate said plunger, and said metalplate having a hollow metal bushing attached thereto to assist inguiding said plunger.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a. one-piecemolded insulating base having a wiring cavity formed in the rear surfacethereof, said base having a conductor passage extending from the frontsurface thereof into communication with said cavity, three wiringterminal members located within said cavity, a pair of plug jackengaging contacts located within said cavty and respectvely connectedwith two of said terminal members, said base having a recess formed inthe front surface thereof, center and screwthread type lamp socketcontacts located within said recess, one of said two terminal membersand the third terminal member being adapted to provide for connection ofsaid center and screw-thread .type lamp socket contacts to a source ofcurrent supply independently of the other of said two terminal members,a switch for completing and interrupting said connection, said switchcomprising stationary and movable contacts normally biased intoengagement with each other, means comprising a door-operated insulatingplunger for effecting disengagement of 'said contacts against said bias,said base having a passage extending therethrough within the area ofsaid recess, and a headed screw the shank of which penetrates saidpassage and is adapted for threaded engagement with a suitable support.

GEORGE J. MEUER.

